this is for the lions

Hazel was... well, she was small. She'd met some real giants out here-- no, not met, but she'd seen them. No, really. She'd seen giants, promise. They were awfully big, and awfully tall. Hazel didn't know how to explain that though. Certainly, they were bigger than her parents, and her parents weren't small. Would she get that big? Would she get bigger? Well, she'd get bigger than she was now, but would she get bigger than her parents were? Bigger like the giants were? Hazel didn't know.

Even if she didn't, the girl would be fierce. She had no idea how long it had been since they'd left her behind here, but she didn't care. Really, Hazel was starting to resent them. She didn't look or act like her siblings did, she would have been an outcast anyway. The black sheep. They'd been wrong in leaving her behind, they'd been wrong to not want her-- Hazel would show them. She'd show the whole world! She'd fight them all and she'd win. She'd beat them all, just like Basilisk did. Her spar against her new friend had been telling, and Hazel had a long way to go. That was fine, the girl would put the work in.

At the edge of one of the broad, still pools, the girl practiced her stance. Hazel dug her claws into the earth, baring her teeth at her reflection. Chin tucked, posture as upright as she could muster. Had to look bigger. Had to look bigger to take down the giants. There was nothing to stop her! No one would stop her! Hazel growled at her own reflection in the pool, watching her own face. Was that fierce enough?
"Speech"